Haaland Claims Gabriel Was Lucky to Avoid Red Card

Erling Haaland, Manchester City's star striker, believes Arsenal's Gabriel should have been given a red card for attempting to headbutt him during their team's 2-1 win. The incident occurred when Haaland outmuscled Gabriel to score the winning goal, leading to a confrontation between the two players. Although Gabriel was booked by referee Anthony Taylor, Haaland thinks he would have been sent off if he had reacted differently to the challenge. "If I had gone down like most other players, it would have been a red card," Haaland said in a post-match interview. "I think most people agree with me on that. It's not something I would do, as my father taught me to stay on my feet." Former referee Mike Dean and Sky Sports' Gary Neville also suggested that Gabriel was fortunate to escape a harsher punishment. Neville commented, "If Gabriel had scored late in the game, City would have been furious. I think he was lucky to avoid a red card, especially since he pushed his head forward." The incident has sparked debate, with some arguing that Gabriel's actions constituted violent conduct, while others believe the yellow card was sufficient. Haaland's winner has put Manchester City just three points behind the league leaders, and they have a game in hand. When asked if his team was in Arsenal's head, Haaland replied, "I don't know, you need to ask them. We should focus on ourselves and not worry about what others think."